Money Moves to wait a bit longer to try two turns

Saturday’s $75,000 Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream looked like a good spot to stretch the unbeaten Money Moves out around two turns for the first time, but trainer Todd Pletcher opted to give the promising 3-year-old colt a little more time before running him back.

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Though Money Moves worked a bullet half-mile in 48.02 seconds on April 18 at Palm Beach Downs, Pletcher felt the horse’s workout was “a touch dull” and opted to pass the 1 1/16-mile race.

“Coming off a big win, he was indicating he needed a little more time to round back into top form,” Pletcher said. “He came out of the breeze well, and we plan on working him again this weekend. Not being on a tight schedule, we decided to wait and see how that goes.”

Money Moves, a son of Candy Ride, won his debut Feb. 15 by 1 1/4 lengths. He came back March 27 and won a one-turn mile allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Trainer Mike Maker said the Grade 1 stakes winner Zulu Alpha is enjoying some turn-out time on the farm for a summer campaign he hopes could include races such as the United Nations at Monmouth Park and the Arlington Million at Arlington Park, races typically run in July and August, respectively.

Zulu Alpha has run three times this year, all at Gulfstream, winning the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf and Grade 2 Mac Diarmida while getting beat a head by stablemate Bemma’s Boy in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 28.

Bemma’s Boy returned to the work tab last Saturday, going a half-mile in 50.40 at Palm Meadows. Maker said Bemma’s Boy would be considered for races such as the Man o’ War or Manhattan, depending on what is available once New York racing reopens up, presumably in late May or early June.